Christchurch mayoral election, 1876

Christchurch mayoral election, 1876

20 December 1876

Candidate James Gapes Charles Thomas Ick Party Independent Independent Popular vote 680 515 Percentage 56.90 43.10

Mayor before election Fred Hobbs Elected Mayor James Gapes

The Christchurch City mayoral election, 1876 was the first election for the Mayor of Christchurch held by public vote. The election, held on 20 December, was won by James Gapes, who beat fellow city councillor Charles Thomas Ick.

Background

Initially, councillors elected one of their own as mayor towards the end of the year, and the role was usually awarded to the most senior councillor. The system changed with the introduction of The Municipal Corporations Acts Amendment Act, 1875, as that legislation stipulated that mayors had to be elected at large (i.e. by eligible voters).^[1] In December 1875, when the new act first applied, the incumbent mayor, Fred Hobbs, was the only candidate nominated. The returning officer, Edward Bishop, thus declared Hobbs elected unopposed on 17 December 1875.^[2] After having served two terms, it became known at the beginning of November 1876 that Hobbs would not seek election for a third term. This was regretted by one of the local newspapers, The Star, as they regarded him as having "discharged his duties with a thoroughness and zeal which will not be readily equalled by his successor."^[3] In the same editorial, the two eventual candidates were named.^[3] From December 1876 onwards, George Leslie Lee acted as returning officer for mayoral elections for many years.^[4]

Candidates

James Gapes

James Gapes was from Essex in England. He came to Christchurch with his wife, children, and a relative in 1859. They travelled as assisted immigrants, i.e. they were part of a supported immigration scheme and thus of humble origin. He started a glass, paint and paperhanging business in Victoria Street and was a member of many organisations. He was also known as a flutist, giving concerts together with Sir John Cracroft Wilson.^[5][6] Gapes was first voted onto Christchurch City Council as a city councillor in a February 1873 by-election.^[7][8]

Charles Thomas Ick

Charles Thomas Ick was an auctioneer by trade. He came from Otago to Christchurch in 1870.^[9] He was first elected as a city councillor in October 1872.^[10]

Election

Eligible electors in Christchurch had their first opportunity to vote for a mayor on 20 December 1876.^[11][12] Gapes represented working class interests, whereas Ick represented the wealthier part of the population.^[13]

Gapes won the election,^[14] and was sworn in as mayor at the next Christchurch City Council meeting on 2 January 1877.^[15] Gapes was defeated at the next mayoral election in December 1877 by Henry Thomson,^[16] but won another election as mayor in November 1880.^[17] Ick became mayor in November 1878 when he beat Thomson.^[18]

References

Mayors of Christchurch
Chairman	John Hall John Ollivier Isaac Luck Edward Bishop William Wilson
Mayors	elected by councillors William Wilson John Anderson Andrew Duncan James Jameson Henry Sawtell Edward Bishop Michael Hart Fred Hobbs elected at large Fred Hobbs James Gapes Henry Thomson Charles Thomas Ick James Gapes (2nd) George Ruddenklau Charles Hulbert Aaron Ayers Charles Louisson Samuel Manning Charles Gray William Prudhoe Eden George Thomas Gapes Walter Cooper Harry Joseph Beswick Walter Cooper (2nd) Charles Louisson (2nd) William Reece Arthur Rhodes Henry Wigram Charles Mathew Gray (2nd) John Hall George Payling Charles Allison Thomas Taylor John Joseph Dougall1 Henry Holland Henry Thacker James Arthur Flesher Rev John Archer Dan Sullivan John Beanland Robert Macfarlane Ernest Andrews Robert Macfarlane (2nd) George Manning Ron Guthrey Neville Pickering Hamish Hay Vicki Buck Garry Moore Bob Parker Lianne Dalziel
Mayoral elections	annual term 1875† 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882† 1883 1884† 1885† 1886 1887† 1888† 1889† 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897† 1898† 1899† 1901† 1902† 1903† 1904† 1905 1906† 1907† 1908 1909 1910† 1911 1912 1913 1914 biennial term 1915 1917 1919 1921 1923 1925 1927 1929 1931 1933 triennial term 1935 1936‡ 1938 1941 1944 1947 1950 1953 1956 1958‡ 1959 1962 1965 1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
† Elected unopposed · ‡ By-election · 1 appointed following death of incumbent